Critical race theory ban bills are an ‘attack’ on history education in SC, opponents say
South Carolina teachers, education advocates and civil rights groups called on state lawmakers Tuesday to vote down legislation aimed at banning the teaching of critical race theory in schools, hours before a House panel was scheduled to meet.
Opponents warned Tuesday that passing the legislation might further drive teachers out of the classroom, and lead to an incomplete education of topics, such as the Civil War and the civil rights movement.
“Race and racism is just as American as apple pie, but our ability to get past racism starts with the way that we teach our children and the way we talk to each other,” AJ Davis, the founder of the Lowcountry Black Parents Association, said a rally outside the State House Tuesday. “If we allow these bills to move forward, we will not have an option for either of those things.”
Critical race theory is a way of examining the United States’ history through the lens of race, focusing on the premise that racism is systemic in the nation’s institutions and are systematically promoting white dominance.
Nationwide opposition to the theory began in the wake of the New York Times’ 1619 project, which focused on reframing American history around slavery and racism.
Sponsors of the legislation argue teaching the theory is racist, will create further division between children and could make some children feel bad for acts they didn’t personally commit. Classroom teachings should be focused on the core curriculum, they say.
Critical race theory is not taught in South Carolina schools, the state’s education department said.
Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said she won’t support the teaching of critical race theory in the state’s classrooms, but said any legislation seeking to restrict how certain topics are taught have to be clearly defined. Spearman said it is vital that teachers don’t skip important topics out of fear of retaliation.
“This is a dangerous path that we may be going down,” Spearman testified last month. “We’ve got to be very, very careful.”
The House Education and Public Works Committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon to hear more testimony about the bills, the committee’s third public listening session. The committee is likely to hold more meetings before drafting a comprehensive proposal that would be debated by the full House.
Debate over the bills comes as South Carolina hit a new record high for teacher vacancies, with 1,121 openings as of February.
“I’ve heard from a lot of teachers since these hearings started,” said S.C. Education Association President Sherry East, a science teacher. “They’re fearful that they’re gonna get in trouble for reading books about Martin Luther King. They’re fearful that they can’t decorate their doors for Black History Month. They’re fearful, and quite frankly, they’re ready to leave.”
East warned that the five bills being considered by the House education committee would limit what parts of history could be taught and what books students would be allowed to read. East called it “censorship.”
“These bills not only bully teachers into not doing their job,” said state Sen. Mike Fanning, D-Fairfield and a former teacher, “(but) it belittles the very students we say we’re here to support. Our students can handle the truth.”
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 2:06 PM.
